Our Favourite Custom Furniture Projects of 2018

Each year we curate a list of our favourite custom furniture projects from the last year. Here are our top ten…

It’s a tradition of ours to reflect on the year gone by with a selection of our team’s favourite bespoke projects.

Each project tells a story – and that’s ultimately what we’re most proud of at Handkrafted. Our ability to foster connections and watch stories unfold through the creation of beautiful and high-quality pieces.

With so many wonderfully unique custom furniture projects to choose from, it’s never easy to select just a small few. Those we have chosen to highlight aren’t necessarily the biggest or most technically sophisticated, yet each has a story that resonates with us for one reason or another.

Feel like you’re ready to bring your own idea to life? Post a brief to let us know what you would like made and we’ll connect you with the best-suited makers.

In no specific order, here are our top ten favourite projects commissioned via Handkrafted in 2018…

Reclaimed Timber Dining Table

Reclaimed timber dining table and benches, incorporating Messmate salvaged from a property in SE Melbourne. The bench seats are solid timber as are the panelled legs of the table base, with the top made from 140 timber tiles of varying shapes and sizes from offcuts.

“Trevor is a brilliant furniture maker and artist and a wonderful person. He produced magnificent work and communicated with me throughout. I couldn’t give him high enough praise.”

Plywood Office Fitout

Simple and stylish plywood office fitout for Sydney tech start-up Zibbet, who came to us looking for cost-effective yet high-quality and tastefully styled furniture for their new office in Surry Hills.

“We’re so pleased we commissioned Geoff to work on this project for our new office. Not only was he super easy to work with, the final product was very high quality. We’ll definitely be back for more as our team grows!”

Remodelled Dining Table

Occasionally a client will come to us with a desire to update or remodel a piece of furniture, typically something to which they have a strong sentimental attachment. While most makers often prefer to work from a clean slate, David Cummins took on the challenge more than once during 2018 and we are so glad he did.

In this case, he’s taken an old traditionally styled Pine table and turned it into an exquisitely crafted contemporary piece of furniture. Have a look over David’s Instagram @cummins_design to review the process in more detail, alongside a beautiful set of Jarrah tables he repurposed as a part of a similar prior commission through Handkrafted.

Reclaimed Dining & Side Tables

This client came to us with a brief to use their original floorboards from their recently renovated house and incorporate them into a large dining table and bedside tables. Their brief stated that they “want a rustic, unpolished look and we would like the stamp on the wood to be exposed.”

Julian McCartney came through with the goods! Traditional joinery methods with modern design, he’s created some beautiful pieces that will last a lifetime. A unique miller’s stamp showing ‘Russell & Sons Launceston’ has been exposed from the underside of the floorboards and provides an insight into their historical significance.

“Super impressed with the process and finished furniture, which not only looks beautiful, has a wonderful history behind it, but will last forever!! Will definitely use Glencross again!”

Timber & Brass Oval Dining Table

A unique piece that is not typical of the style of custom furniture we regularly receive, nevertheless the result is a glorious example of what’s possible when collaborating with an expert bespoke furniture maker like Anthony. Here’s an extract from part of the original client brief: “We really want a custom made dining table as we can’t find anything in stores that suits our aesthetic. Our house features curved walls and brass features and we would like to create a dining table with these same features.”

Clearly, Anthony nailed this brief and delivered an exceptional result that blends seamlessly and compliments the broader home design and styling.

Weave Bedsides

The Weave Bedside, luxurious and handcrafted. Solid timber carcass joined by hand-cut dovetails finished with 3 coats of a naturally derived hardwax & oil for a hardwearing silky smooth finish.

“Absolutely exceptional workmanship. The quality has surpassed my expectation and I couldn’t be happier with the entire process and final product.”

About Handkrafted:

Handkraftedis a community marketplace connecting people with passionate makers to commission custom goods. We have brought together hundreds of Australian independent, bespoke craftspeople and artisans who specialise in producing high quality, sustainably made pieces.

Our makers can help you realise your own idea or collaborate with you on a new design. Many also feature a range of original designs that can be made to order or customised to suit your specific needs. Whichever option you choose, we’re here to help make it happen. Support local makers and kick-start your own project today.